unity-design team mailing list archive

["Mirek M." <mazelm@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Mark,
thanks for the response,

2011/1/4 Mark Shuttleworth <mark@xxxxxxxxxx>

>  On 19/12/10 17:22, Mirek M. wrote:
>
> *The whole left side of the screen would be devoted to the current
> application*
> Right now, you get some system-related commands on the right of the top
> panel, application-related commands on the left, and some more
> system-related commands on the far left.
> Moving the launcher and the Ubuntu button to the right would put all the
> system-related commands on the right and all the app-related commands on the
> left, so neither the launcher nor the Ubuntu button gets in the way when
> working with a single application.
>
>
> One idea we try to preserve is the "hierarchy of information", which says
> that (in left-to-right languages) organising structure should be on the
> left, and content on the right. In this case, the launcher is very much
> "organising structure".
>

I understand the point, however, in most operating systems, this rule of
information hierarchy is not followed in application/window
indicators/launchers. The GNOME, XFCE, KDE, and LXDE panels, Windows
taskbar, and Mac OS X dock are all on bottom, not on top, which I assume is
because they interfere less with workflow than if they were on top.
Chrome OS, on the other hand, puts tabs on top, because it is its assumption
that the user doesn't stay in a single tab very long, but constantly
switches between tabs.
Therefore, unless it is Ubuntu's intention that the user should be switching
applications frequently, I think it is more wise to put the launcher on the
right and not on the left.

>
>  *A "hot corner" wouldn't get in the way*
> Keeping application commands separate from system commands is especially
> important to workflow when you have areas that activate on hover (e.g.
> Ubuntu button). It is extremely annoying and distracting when you
> accidentally mouse over a "hot corner"and have to wait a few seconds to get
> back to work. As the menu bar and window buttons are aligned left, and as
> most toolbars are also left-aligned, a hot corner on the right will be less
> likely to be accidentally triggered than a hot corner on the left.
>
>
> At the moment, the corner is overly sensitive because the launcher shows up
> for a few seconds if you go over the Ubuntu button. But in fact, it should
> actually require you to hit the corner. Fixing that should reduce the impact
> of this feeling.
>
>  *The application would get the most focus*
> As most languages are read from left to right, our focus tends to start at
> the left side of the screen. If the goal of Unity is to maintain focus on a
> single task, it makes most sense to put the launcher somewhere where it
> doesn't distract from the application -- on the right.
>
>
> Well, when you are focused on an app, the launcher should be invisible.
> Balancing focus and awareness is a key design goal for us in Unity, hence
> the intellihiding approach. There are other things we can do to take this
> even further, but they'll have to wait for 11.10.
>

Even with the launcher hidden, the Ubuntu button still gets in the way --
because it's right next to window buttons and the menu bar. If you want to
really focus on an application, you need the whole application to be
separate from system buttons and commands.
BTW, what's in plans for 11.10?

>
>
>
>  *"Tools" would be easier to target*
> Most image editors, raster or vector, have a "Tools" sidebar on the left,
> which is very easy to target when it is at the edge of the screen, but very
> hard to target when there's a launcher at the left edge of the screen.
>
>
> Again, the app should generally get all the real estate, including the left
> edge, solving this issue (i.e. giving Fitt's Law friendly edges to the app).
>
>
>  I hope that this is enough to at least consider moving the launcher to
> the right.
>
>
> Good points, well argued, but I'm afraid the balance remains in favour of
> the left edge for now.
>

Would at least an option to have the launcher on the right be possible?

>
>

> Mark
>